Musician - Loet van der Lee

Born in Bakkum (1968), the Netherlands, Loet started playing the trumpet at the age of nine and started his professional career at eighteen. He gratuated from the Hilversum conservatory in January 1993. As a performing artist he soon became interested in various musical styles. From jazz, salsa and pop music to big band, small band, blues, funk and studio music. Today Loet has become widely respected not only as a jazz and Latin-jazz player, but also as a section and lead-trumpet player. Over the years he has played all over the world both with his own bands and with numerous other orchestras and ensembles. In the Netherlands , he is one of the most prolific session and soloplayers but still finds time to compose, give workshops, teach students and lead his own bands. In 2006 untill 2012 he was the director of the SWING foundation and from 2012 uptill now he is the festivaldirector of the Meer Jazz Foundation. In 2017 he published his studybook 'Better trumpet playing' part I and part II. This book is available as digital download and in print throught this website.

Loet van der Lee Quartet

The original Loet van der Lee Quartet was founded in 1992 and has performed in several countries throughout the world. In this line up the band has been playing since 2013.

The 'Loet van der Lee quartet has a passion for performing that knows no limits, they jam with audiences of all sizes. Lively and energetic music which is clearly there own. The result is to be heard on all the albums.

The Holland Bigband

This 18 musicians orchestra was founded in 2002. In 2013 the band released there third album 'Push Forward' (JSR06016) and presented this programm at the Bimhuis of Amsterdam. Original compositions and pigheaded arrangments in the theater of steaming Big Band jazz.

In 2013 the band released there third album 'Push Forward' (JSR06016) and presented this programm at the Bimhuis Amsterdam on the 23 of November that year.

Descarga Amsterdam

Trumpeter Loet van der Lee first met Brian Lynch in 1999 in New York. Lynch had acquired fame as trumpetplayer in the bands of jazz legend Art Blakey and salsa hero Eddie Palmieri. Back in the Netherlands organized a session with the best Latin musicians in Holland, featuring Brian as a special guest. Descarga Amsterdam was born'. In 2010 Loet van der Lee decided to reassemble the band for some try outs and a cd recording. A true Latin Jazz All Stars was formed and late in 2010 the cd 'Pura Vida' was recorded in the Tam Tam studio of Lucas van Merwijk in Baarn (Netherlands).

The new programme consists mainly of compositions by the bandleader in arrangements by Edy Martinez (Colombia), Leslie Lopez (Puerto Rico), Brian Lynch (USA), Michael Simon (Venezuela) and Frans Cornelissen (Netherlands). The repertoire consists of swinging jazz based on a heavy latin groove.

Teachers and bandexperiences

Loet van der Lee began playing the trumpet at the age of nine and started his professional career at 18. He graduated from the Hilversum Conservatory in January 1993. His teachers where: Ack van Rooyen, Cees Smal, Ruud Breuls, Allan Botchinsky, Bert Joris, Willem van der Vliet, Eric van Lier and Rob Madna.

At the end of 1999 he has made a study tour through the USA, sponsored by the Fonds voor de Podiumkunsten (the Fund for the Stage Arts) and the Fonds Jonge Musici (Young Musician's Fund) also known as the Prins Bernardfonds. He studied with Brian Lynch in New York as well as having lessons with Joe Magnarelly, Wynton Marsalis and Jim Rotondi. Furthermore, he received coaching from Bobby Shew and Malolm McNab in addition to guidance from Gary Grant, Clay Jenkins and Wynton Marsalis.

Educator

Loet in an internationally known and hightly respected educator. Students enjoy his workshops, private lessons and master classes. These workshops are all about how to become the best musician you can be and they include such topics as trumpet techniques, sound, breathing, jazz solo, playing in a big band, being part of the trumpet section, but also the psychology of studying music. As a bandleader and music instructor Loet enjoys teaching both beginners and advanced musicians both individually and in groups. As a performer and conductor Loet has developed incredible 'chops' and works with big and small bands the world over. Nationally, he is a guest teacher in several Dutch conservatories and has also worked with numerous big bands and ensembles. On an international level he has given master classes in the USA, Germany, Belgium, Colombia, Japan and China, among others.

Workshops

Loet gives workshops and master classes all over the world. These workshops are all about how to be the best musician you can be and includes topics as trumpet technique, sound, breathing, jazz solo, big band playing, sectional playing but also the psychology of study. For the last 11 years Loet gives series of workshops at the cultural centre Pier K at Hoofddorp and Nieuw Vennep (NL). Check it out!

Conductor

As a conductor Loet has developed incredible chops and works and has worked with big and small bands all over the world.

Currently Loet leads his own orchestra The Holland Bigband and the Fellows Big Band. Loet has been the steady director of the Amstel Big Band and the AMC Big Band and guest conductor numerous big bands like: Conservatory Amsterdam Big Band / Rotterdam Jazz Orchestra / Stageband and many more.

Meer Jazz Director

Starting October 2012 Loet has become the festival director of the Corendon Meer Jazz Festival. Organising an 100 band jazzfestival, a serie of 26 jazzconcerts during the year, many educational and other projects and the International Big Band Competition (IBBC). Website www.meerjazz.nl

SWING Foundation

From November 2006 until january 2013 Loet was the director of the SWING foundation. A modest, private foundation founded in 1981 for promotion of improvised music. In january 2013 Loet stood back as a director and became a member of the board. You can read everything about this organisation on the website www.swingweb.nl

Promotional photo Loet van der Lee High Quality (+300 dpi)

Promotional photo Holland Bigband High Quality (+300 dpi)

Holland Bigband - Push Forward - JSR06016 - 2013

Push Forward is an album full of new compositions by band-leader and bandmembers, produces by the famous Michel Herr. The arrangements where written by Rob Horsting, Robbert Scherpenisse, Johan Plomp, Sebastian Ohm and Henri Gerrits.

New Loet van der Lee Quartet - Basics - JSR06015 - 2012

Almost all bandmembers have contributed new original compositions, wich has led to developing a new specific style and sound. The musical transparency resulting from playing without a harmonic instrument has forced the musicians to return to the basics of rythm, bass line and melody. Bart Wirtz - alto saxophone, Johan Plomp - bass, Mark Schilders - drums and Loet van der Lee - trumpet.

Holland Bigband CD: Live - JSR06013 - 2009

In 2009 they released there second album 'Holland Bigband Live' (JSR06013) and presented this album with several concerts in the Netherlands and Germany. The cd contains 8 original compositions written by bandmembers.

Holland Bigband CD: Happy House - JSR06004 - 2007

Holland Bigband In 2007 the first CD 'Happy House' (JSR06004) was successfully presented at the Bimhuis Amsterdam and contains 12 compositions by bandleader Loet van der Lee in beautiful arrangements.

Loet van der Lee Quartet CD: Playsome - JSR06001 - 2006

The quartet performs 10 beautiful originals from the different band members

Loet van der Lee Quintet CD: The Adderley Project - AL73209 - 2001

This CD is a homage to the in January 2000 deceased cornetist and composer Nat Adderley. The CD was recorded with Martin Wind (bass), Rob van Bavel (piano and Fender Rhodes), Mimi Verderame (drums) and Benjamin Herman (alto saxophone). The quintet was put together for the occasion.